TGIF
EDITION:
It's a bit nipply
here this
morning on the
rock....not a day
for antenna work....
SUNSPOT
COUNTS HIT A 9-YEAR
HIGH:
In a
continued sign of
strength for Solar
Cycle 25, sunspot
counts just hit a
9-year high. This
plot from NOAA shows
how the monthly
sunspot number
skyrocketed in
January 2023:
The
monthly sunspot
number of 144 in
January 2023 was
only percentage
points away from
topping the previous
solar cycle, Solar
Cycle 24, which
peaked in Feb. 2014
with a monthly value
of 146.
Originally,
forecasters thought
Solar Cycle 25 would
be about the same as
Solar Cycle 24, one
of the weakest solar
cycles in a century.
Current trends
suggest Solar Cycle
25 will surpass that
low threshold, at
least. Solar Maximum
is not expected
until 2024 or 2025,
so it has plenty of
time to strengthen
further, bringing
X-flares,
geomagnetic storms
and auroras. You can
follow the
progression here
For amateur radio
club, practice makes
perfect
WASHINGTON — For
members of the
Washington Area
Amateur Radio Club
(WAARC,) biannual
contests represent
both a thrill and an
important exercise.
On national radio
field days every
summer and winter,
the group sets up
camp and spends 24
uninterrupted hours
making as many
contacts as possible
around the world.
Club member Lloyd
Thornburg said the
group served as both
a hobby and a form
of emergency
response
infrastructure. If
communications
between actors like
hospitals,
governments and
emergency responders
fail from any kind
of disaster, the
WAARC can step in
and fill the gap
with their own
portable, off-grid
equipment.
“We can get a signal
in and out of the
country,” Thornburg
said. “When
everything else
fails, HAM radio
works. They were the
first ones to report
the earthquake in
Alaska in the ‘60s.”
WAARC President Mark
Lukins said events
like the field day
served as more than
a friendly
competition. The
race to make contact
with other operators
gives participants
hands-on practice
with the call signs,
protocol and
technology they’d
use in an emergency.
“You work on
listening skills,”
he said. “There’s a
lot of people on
there all at the
same time. You’ve
got to pick out call
signs, you’ve got to
be able to hear the
exchanges.”
Lukins said the
twice-a-year timing
came with seasonal
challenges to ensure
year-round
preparedness.
“In the summertime
we use stakes in the
ground … we can’t do
that in the winter
time because the
ground’s froze,” he
said. “In the winter
time, we kind of put
our Plan B in effect
… out here, on a
trailer. We have
other antennas that
are mounted on truck
hubs that are
really, really
heavy. You don’t
need to have guys
out there to hold
them in place.”
For some members,
emergency response
is the hobby’s
primary appeal.
WAARC Vice President
John Bush said the
skills brought a
sense of security,
since they offer
access to news and
communication when
cellphones and
internet are off the
table.
“I believe in being
prepared and
independent,” he
said. “I’m not a
‘prepper,’ per say,
like you’d see out
on YouTube. But I’m
originally from
California, which is
earthquake country.
It was a very real
thing, you had to be
prepared to provide
for yourself for a
period of time …
landlines went down,
there was no
communication for a
few days.”
Operators spent the
contest hours
scrolling through
frequencies they’re
licensed on, either
on the hunt for
someone requesting
contacts or camping
on a given
wavelength and
asking for others to
reach out, using the
codes, “QRZ” or
“CQ.”
At busier hours of
the field day, that
means dialing into a
frequency, calling
out, and hearing a
cacophony and
replies before
asking one to repeat
itself. Every other
responder either
waits on the line,
or flocks to another
channel where they
try again.
The practice has
plenty of technical
challenges to boot.
Weather, atmospheric
conditions and
competition for
bandwidth threaten
to disrupt a call,
if not accounted for
by the participants.
At 1 p.m. Saturday,
those on the mic had
seconds between each
call. By 11 p.m.,
things had slowed to
a quieter, slow
scroll between
bandwidths.
Bush said the payoff
from all that work
was a rush of its
own.
“We’re struggling,
right here, to
connect to someone,”
he said late
Saturday night. “But
then when you
actually make a
contact, it’s just
like, ‘Success!’
There’s kind of a
reward there, it’s
just kind of
exciting.”
Shortly before
midnight Sunday
morning, a
conversation could
be overheard between
two men about a
friend in Ukraine.
Another operator in
Italy spent much of
the evening
informing callers he
was “not in the
contest,” and
instead shooting for
distance, rather
than quantity of
communications.
With enough call
outs of “Whiskey,
Zero, Alpha, Romeo,
Charlie,” (phonetic
letters making up
the WAARC’s unique
call sign,) Bush
reached one contest
participant late
Saturday night in
east Texas which had
already logged 800
contacts that day.
Many of those
happened through
Morse code, rather
than a microphone.
THURSDAY
EDITION:
The rodent from PA
predicts 6 more
weeks of winter,
with a 40% success
rate....
When All Else
Fails: Amateur Radio
Helps Rescue Lost
Hiker
Editor's
note: The
following event
took place on
Sunday
afternoon,
December 11,
2022, and was
told to ARRL
News by Raul
"Skip" Camejo,
AC1LC, Public
Information
Coordinator for
the ARRL New
Hampshire
Section.
The amateur
radio repeater
on the summit of
Gunstock
Mountain helped
connect the lost
hiker in a
remote area of
New Hampshire.
The repeater is
affiliated with
New England
Digital
Emergency
Communications
Network, NEDECN.
A New
Hampshire man
and his dog went
out for a day
hike yesterday
in the Belmont
area of central
New Hampshire.
Things went well
until his cell
phone battery
died. With
darkness near
and a prediction
of snow, a
leisurely day
hike was quickly
turning into a
serious health
and safety issue
for the hiker.
Fortunately
for him, he is
also an amateur
radio operator
and brought
along his
digital mobile
radio (DMR)
handheld radio
with him. With
no cell phone
capability, he
made a call on
the DMR New
Hampshire
statewide
channel through
the Gunstock
(Mountain) DMR
repeater,
seeking
assistance. His
call was
answered by Bill
Barber, NE1B,
who was
monitoring the
channel. The
hiker asked
Barber to call
his wife,
because he could
not text or get
"pinged" with
his dead cell
phone. Barber
contacted the
hiker's wife,
and she was glad
to hear that
someone was in
contact with
him.
Unfortunately,
he did not know
exactly where he
was and believed
he would have to
walk through
brush for an
hour or more to
get to a road.
His wife
called the local
police
department, who
began a search
with their local
fire department.
Amateur radio
was the only
communication
from about 4:30
to 6:30 PM.
Barber was able
to make contact
with Rick Zach,
K1RJZ, who lives
closer to the
search area, and
was familiar
with the area's
snowmobile
trails and
roads. Zach
coordinated
communication
between the
responding
police units and
the lost radio
operator on the
New Hampshire
Statewide
talkgroup.
Police and
fire units
attempted to
assist in the
search by
activating their
sirens in
different
locations to try
to obtain a
location on the
ham operator,
but he was not
able to hear
them.
Another amateur
radio operator,
Chuck
Cunningham,
K1MIZ, was
monitoring the
events on Net
Watch and
noticed that the
lost ham had
accidentally
changed
channels. This
information was
passed along,
and 2-meter DMR
communication
continued until
the lost ham
walked out to a
road and was
able to advise
searchers of his
location. The
search and
checkout ended
successfully at
6:30 PM.
Thanks to the
efforts of Bill
Barber, NE1B
(ARRL Life
Member); Rick
Zach, K1RJZ
(ARRL member),
and Chuck
Cunningham,
K1MIZ.
Barber listed
some very
important
lessons learned
from the
incident:
Radio
batteries last
longer on DMR
radios than on
analog mode.
Even his
wife had trouble
with her cell
phone coverage
at home.
Monitor your
local state DMR
channel to help
others nearby.
You may want
to program
146.52 FM next
to your state
channel for
signal strength
direction
finding if and
when you're out
of repeater
range. Some hams
still monitor
146.52 MHz
simplex.
Stay on the
primary channel
until you know
more hams are
nearby to
direction find
your signal.
Hike with
DMR. Network
sites cover many
areas of New
England that do
not have any
cell service.
Hike with a
flashlight.
And I would
like to add one
more item to the
list. My son is
one of the
leaders of
Pemigewasset
Valley (New
Hampshire)
Search & Rescue
Team and
unfortunately
responds to too
many calls for
lost hikers. One
very important
item that he
stresses is that
hikers file a
"flight plan."
Let someone who
is not going on
the hike know
where you are
going, how long
you expect to be
gone, and what
communication
equipment or
capability you
have with you.
This also
applies if you
are going out
hunting,
fishing, or
boating.
DARPA Awards
Contracts for
Long-Range ‘Liberty
Lifter’ Flying Boat
Design
The Pentagon’s
emerging
technologies
research arm awarded
two aviation
companies contracts
to develop seaplanes
that would fly less
than 100 feet off
the ground and carry
90 tons of cargo
more than 6,500
nautical miles,
the Department of
Defense announced
Wednesday.
General Atomics,
working with
Maritime Applied
Physics Corporation,
and Aurora Flight
Sciences, working
with Gibbs & Cox and
ReconCraft, each won
contracts to start
design and
development work for
a prototype Liberty
Lifter cargo
aircraft, according
to the DARPA
announcement.
“The planned Liberty
Lifter demonstrator
will be a large
flying boat similar
in size and capacity
to the C-17
Globemaster III
transport aircraft.
Goals include
takeoff and land in
Sea State 4,
sustained on-water
operation up to Sea
State 5, and
extended flight
close to the water
in ground effect
with the capability
to fly out of ground
effect at altitudes
up to 10,000 feet
above sea level,”
reads a statement
from DARPA.
“Liberty Lifter
will use low-cost
manufacturing akin
to ship fabrication
in building a highly
innovative seaplane
capable of meeting
DoD heavy lift
requirements [100+
tons] that operates
with runway and port
independence.”
General Atomics
was awarded $8
million
cost-plus-fixed-fee
contract award in
support of DARPA’s
Liberty Lifter
program in November
for the work, the
company announced
Wednesday. Neither
Aurora nor DARAPA
included the award
to the Boeing
subsidiary in their
statements.
In the first
phase of the
contract, the two
teams will develop
an aircraft that
will carry two
Marine Corps
Amphibious Combat
Vehicles or six
20-foot-long cargo
containers at just
above the wave tops
using the physics of
the ground effect.
Fixed-wing aircraft
flying close to the
behave like they’re
riding on a cushion
of air between the
ground. Airplanes
experiencing ground
effect use less
energy to move
through the air at
high speeds and in
turn take less
energy to fly.
Both companies
have taken different
approaches to their
designs.
“The General
Atomics team has
selected a
twin-hull, mid-wing
design to optimize
on-water stability
and seakeeping. It
employs distributed
propulsion using
twelve turboshaft
engines,” reads the
DARPA release.
“Aurora Flight
Sciences
point-of-departure
design more closely
resembles a
traditional flying
boat, with a single
hull, high wing and
eight turboprops for
primary propulsion.”
Now, the two
teams will set out
on an 18-month
period to refine the
operational concepts
and design for each
proposed Liberty
Lifter.
WEDNESDAY
EDITION:
Frosty cold here on
the island but no
snow around
thankfully.....It
was nice to hear
Mike- N1XW on the
Fusion network
linked together with
a dozen repeaters
together in MA, NH,
and ME. ...Club
connects
with the
International Space
Station ....
A college student
built an AI to help
look for alien radio
signals
The program already
spotted potential
evidence while
combing through
150TB of data from
820 nearby stars.
Enlisting advanced
artificial
intelligence to help
humans
search for signs of
extraterrestrial
life may sound
like the premise to
a sci-fi novel.
Nevertheless, it’s a
strategy that
investigators are
increasingly
employing to
help expedite and
improve their ET
detection
methodologies.
As a new paper
published in
Nature Astronomy
reveals, one of the
most promising
advancements in the
field may have
arrived courtesy of
a college
undergrad.ver the
past few years,
Peter Ma, a
third-year math and
physics student at
the University of
Toronto, has worked
alongside mentors at
SETI and
Breakthrough Listen—an
initiative tasked
with finding
“technosignatures”
of extraterrestrial
intelligence—to
develop a new neural
network technique
capable of parsing
through massive
troves of galactic
radio signals in the
pursuit of alien
life. Narrowband
radio frequencies
have been
hypothesized as a
potential indicator
for ETs, given they
require a “purposely
built transmitter,”
according to
SETI’s FAQ.
While prior
search algorithms
only identified
anomalies as exactly
defined by humans,
Ma’s deep machine
learning system
allows for
alternative modes of
thinking that
human-dictated
algorithms often
can’t replicate.
In an email to
PopSci, Ma
explains, “people
have inserted
components of
machine learning or
deep learning into
search techniques to
assist
[emphasis theirs]
with the search. Our
technique is the
search, meaning
the entire process
is effectively
replaced by a neural
network, it’s no
longer just a
component, but the
entire thing.”
As
Motherboard
and elsewhere have
recently noted, the
results are already
promising, to say
the least—Ma’s
system has found
eight new signals of
interest. What’s
more, Ma’s deep
learning program
found the potential
ET evidence while
combing through
150TB of data from
820 nearby stars
that were previously
analyzed using
classical
techniques, but at
the time
determined to be
devoid of
anything worth
further
investigation.
According to
Ma’s summary
published on Monday,
the college student
previously found the
standard supervised
search models to be
too restrictive,
given that they only
found candidates
matching simulated
signals they were
trained on while
unable to generalize
arbitrary anomalies.
Likewise, existing
unsupervised methods
were too
“uncontrollable,”
flagging anything
with the slightest
variation and “thus
returning mostly
junk.” By
intermediately
swapping weighted
considerations
during the deep
learning program’s
training, Ma found
that he and his team
could “balance the
best of both
worlds.”
TUESDAY
EDITION:
Had some cancer
removed from my neck
yesterday, they said
lay low so you don't
bust open up the
stitches. Well that
lasted a few hours
with the dog using
me as a playground,
it took a half hour
to stop the
bleeding, damn if I
was going to the ER
for a stitch or
two...so laying low
today and playing on
10-20 meters
today...In the
modern world of
smartphones and
lightning fast
internet, amateur
(ham) radio
operators still
enjoy communicating
over the radio by
tapping telegraph
keys just like
the pioneers did in
the earliest days of
over-the-air
communications.
Missouri S&T
Amateur Radio Club
to Celebrate 100
Years
The
Missouri S&T
Amateur Radio
Club, W0EEE,
at Missouri
University of
Science and
Technology
(Missouri S&T),
is gearing up
for an early
celebration of
their 100 years.
Club President
Morgan Lyons,
KI5SXY, said the
station first
went on the air
in 1923 as the
M.S.M Radio
Club,
broadcasting
basketball games
from the
Jackling Gym on
the grounds of
the Missouri
School of Mines
and Metallurgy
(MSM).
"The FCC was not
around in 1923,
but we believe
the original
M.S.M Radio club
used the call
sign W9DUM,"
said Lyons.
Then, between
September 1937
and March 1938,
W9EEE had been
assigned to the
M.S.M. Radio
Club, and in
September 1947,
the M.S.M Radio
club was
assigned the
call sign W0EEE
and changed its
name to the
Missouri S&T
Amateur Radio
Club.
Missouri S&T
Amateur Radio
Club members
operate from
their shack.
Photo courtesy
of Missouri S&T
Amateur Radio
Club.
The
club now has 20
active members
and over 300
alumni that
regularly visit
to help support
club activities.
The official
date for the
celebration in
April has not
been selected,
but there will
be an open house
and tour of the
club's radio
shack, and a
special event
station.
The Missouri S&T
Amateur Radio
Club is an ARRL
Affiliated Club.
Students from
the club
regularly
participate in
the ARRL
Collegiate
Amateur Radio
Program --
which provides
networking
opportunities
for students and
their college
radio clubs.
MONDAY
EDITION: I
have a little
surgery today that
might slow me down
for a day....looks
like the coldest day
in years is on the
way this
weekend....We had a
nice turnout for
Winter Field day at
the club Saturday,
about a dozen coming
and going....If you
have been listening
on 3927 at night, I
think it is time for
a Go Fund Me page
for Bruce
"Almighty" to
fund his anger and
blood pressure
issues. The man
could argue with the
Pope and continues
to insist he is the
channel master and
all must bow to his
wishes, and answer
the question- yes or
no....Speaking of
3927, I wonder if
this
group allowed
Donnie-N4TAT to
come?....
Amateur Radio
Newsline Report
TELESCOPE LOGS A
RECORD-BREAKING
RADIO TRANSMISSION
NEIL/ANCHOR: We
begin this week's
report with a report
of a record-breaking
signal from a galaxy
far, far away.
Here's Graham Kemp
VK4BB.
GRAHAM: Scientists
have captured a
faint radio signal
from the most
distant galaxy yet -
a signal they
believe created a
chance to look back
8.8 billion years in
time when the
universe was 4.9
billion years old.
Arnab
Chakraborty, a
post-doctoral
researcher at McGill
University, said the
signal was received
at a
"record-breaking
distance."
A
news release from
McGill university
said the signal,
which was received
by the Giant
Metrewave Radio
Telescope in India,
had a wavelength
called the 21 cm
line.
The
researchers credit a
naturally occurring
phenomenon known as
gravitational
lensing. When that
happens, another
galaxy that exists
between the radio
signal and the
telescope bends the
signal which
magnifies it,
enabling the
telescope to detect
it. Scientist
Nirupam Roy at the
Indian Institute of
Science said this
process shows great
potential for
further study of
distant galaxies.
This is Graham
Kemp VK4BB.
(CBS NEWS, MC GILL
UNIVERSITY)
** SILENT
KEY: ARRL WESTERN
PENNA SECTION
TRAFFIC MGR, BOB
KETZELL, KB3IN
NEIL/ANCHOR:
Amateurs in Western
Pennsylvania are
grieving the loss of
a valued friend,
mentor and top
traffic handler. For
that story, we turn
to Kevin Trotman
N5PRE.
KEVIN:
There was to be a
final call and
moment of silence
for Bob Ketzell,
KB3IN, on Friday
evening, January
27th, at the start
of the Western
Pennsylvania Phone
Traffic Net on 80
meters. Bob became a
Silent Key on
Tuesday, January
24th following a
long illness.
According to his
close friend, Eddie
Misiewicz KB3YRU,
Bob took great joy
handling the daily
Radiogram traffic on
the National Traffic
System in western
Pennsylvania and
serving as net
control for the
Western Pennsylvania
Phone Traffic Net.
First licensed
in 1961 as a junior
in high school, Bob
most recently had
been Western
Pennsylvania section
traffic manager for
the ARRL and the
Western Pennsylvania
representative for
the 3rd Region Net
Cycle 2 Traffic Net.
A member of the
Washington County
Amateur
Communications Club,
he was a former ARES
emergency
coordinator for
Washington County.
According to
Eddie, Bob was
well-known for his
generosity as a
mentor, having
taught
traffic-handling and
Radiogram classes to
fellow amateurs. He
was a retired
dispatch supervisor
for the Washington
County Department of
Public Safety in
Pennsylvania.
Eddie said of
him: "Our next
section traffic
manager is going to
have big shoes to
fill. There will
never be another
Bob."
Bob was
76.
(EDDIE
MISIEWICZ, K B 3 Y R
U)
** HAMS
JOIN CELEBRATION OF
WORLD RADIO DAY
NEIL/ANCHOR: A
group of hams in
Europe will be
joining the on-air
festivities in
February recognizing
the role radio can
play as a tool of
peace among nations.
Andy Morrison K9AWM
brings us that
report.
ANDY:
The United Nations
Educational,
Scientific and
Cultural
Organization, known
as UNESCO, declared
World Radio Day to
be a celebration of
the contributions
this communications
medium can make
towards peace. This
year marks the 12th
such World Radio Day
on the 13th of
February. Although
there is a separate
day set aside to
mark World Amateur
Radio Day later this
spring, hams with
the EA Digital
Federation are
celebrating the
medium with several
special event
stations.
Operators plan to be
on the air this year
with special
callsigns between
Friday, the 10th and
Monday the 13th of
the month. The
callsigns are AO (A
OH) one through nine
W-R-D. QSL cards
will be available
for any single
contact and qualify
the operator for the
Radio Clubs of the
World Award, EANET.
Meanwhile, on
the commercial side
of the spectrum in
the US, KDKA News
Radio in Pittsburgh,
Pennsylvania is
receiving the 2023
World Radio Day
Award for US
stations, as the
country's oldest
licensed broadcast
station. Previous
winners include 1010
WINS (TEN-TEN Wins)
in New York City,
college radio
station WRHU at
Hofstra University
on Long Island, New
York and the first
winner, WTOP in
Washington, DC.
This is Andy
Morrison K9AWM.
(UNESCO, EA
DIGITAL FEDERATION,
WIA)
**
CUBESAT WILL USE
INFLATABLE ANTENNA
SYSTEM
NEIL/ANCHOR:
Innovative antenna
technology is being
featured as part of
a CubeSat project
under way in
Arizona. Jack Parker
W8ISH gives us those
details.
JACK: Students at
the University of
Arizona have
finished their work
on a CubeSat project
that will be
launched into low
Earth orbit later
this year. One of
the innovations the
CubeSat will use is
inflatable antenna
technology developed
by one of the
school's astronomy
professors.
By striving to stay
in a sun synchronous
orbit around Earth,
the small satellite,
known as CatSat,
will remain in
daylight through
most of the length
of its mission. Its
inflatable antenna
system was developed
by professor
Christopher Walker,
who serves as the
team's science
principal
investigator. The
inflatable antenna
will be used for
high bandwidth
transmission.
According to the
website of Freefall
Aerospace, where
Walker developed the
antenna, the system
makes use of an
ultra-lightweight
inflatable structure
that provides a
large aperture
high-gain antenna
that can be deployed
in orbit.
The
CatSat's mission
will also include
detection of HF
signals from amateur
radio operators
around the world
through its use of a
WSPR antenna. Those
transmissions will
be downlinked to a
receiver at the
school's Biosphere 2
facility on the
Arizona campus.
CatSat will also be
collecting
high-resolution
images of Earth and
providing data on
the ionosphere.
The project is
part of NASA's
CubeSat Launch
Initiative.
This is Jack Parker
W8ISH.
(ARIZONA PUBLIC
MEDIA, UNIVERSITY OF
ARIZONA)
**
SWISS STUDENTS'
SATELLITE PREPARES
FOR LAUNCH
NEIL/ANCHOR: An
educational
satellite built by
Swiss students is
being prepared for
an important launch
in February, as we
learn from Jeremy
Boot G4NJH.
JEREMY: With the
help of a ham radio
antenna donated by
the Vaudois Amateur
Radio Club, HB9MM,
high school students
in Switzerland will
be learning how to
download telemetry
data and photos from
a satellite they
have helped build in
a laboratory at
Orbital Solutions in
Monaco.
The
RoseyCubesat-1 is
the first
educational
satellite of its
kind to be created
through the
company’s STEMSAT
programme. Le Rosey
is the name of the
Swiss learning
institute that the
students attend.
They will be able to
send commands to the
CubeSat to select
telemetry and
picture download or
to switch it into
its VU transponder
mode so that
amateurs around the
world will be able
to communicate over
the small satellite.
The downlink using
BPSK and AX25 is on
436.825 MHz and when
the transponder is
enabled, its uplink
will be on 145.850
MHz. The launch is
expected to take
place on the 14th
February at the
Vandenberg Space
Force Base in
California.
This is Jeremy Boot
G4NJH.
**
AMSAT NEEDS NEW
MANAGER FOR
GRIDMASTER HEAT MAP
NEIL/ANCHOR: Are
you a satellite
enthusiast hoping to
go for the big prize
with your contacts?
There's an opening
at AMSAT for a
capable volunteer
who can help with an
important tool for
chasers. Sel Embee
KB3TZD tells us
what's involved.
SEL: AMSAT's
Gridmaster Heat Map
has served as an
invaluable guide to
grid-chasers using
satellites, for
those activating
hams who need to be
aware of which grids
are in greatest
need. AMSAT says in
a recent weekly
service bulletin
that the map may be
going away unless a
replacement manager
can be found.
Paul Overn,
KEØPBR, will be
stepping down after
three years at the
helm of the project
in which he tracked
grid rarity based on
crowdsourced data
from hams who
updated him. Paul's
Twitter feed,
atgridmasterheat
(@GridMasterHeat)
displays a
color-coded map of
grid rarities
ranging from green -
the most common - to
red, for rare.
The map plays an
especially important
role in the pursuit
of AMSAT's
prestigious
GridMaster Award.
This honor is
conferred on any
amateur around the
world who works all
488 Maidenhead grid
squares in the 48
contiguous United
States via satellite
and has those
contacts confirmed
in writing.
AMSAT is looking for
a volunteer to
assume Paul's post.
The candidate should
be capable of
collecting
crowdsourced data
and transferring it
to a spreadsheet or
some other format
and providing
updates every week
to satellite users.
For details
visit www.amsat.org
This is Sel
Embee KB3TZD.
(SEAN KUTZKO,
KX9X)
**
VINTAGE RADIO MUSEUM
REOPENING IN IRELAND
NEIL/ANCHOR: A
beloved museum for
fans of antique
radio and gear is
finally reopening
its doors in Dublin.
We have more details
from Jeremy Boot
G4NJH.
JEREMY: The doors
are reopening at Ye
Olde Hurdy Gurdy
Museum, a vintage
collection of radios
and radio-related
items housed in a
Martello Tower near
Dublin, Ireland. On
the weekend of
January 14th, the
first visitors were
able to step inside
after the museum had
been closed for two
months for
renovation work.
Though the initial
opening provided
some limited access
while the remainder
of the work was
completed, full
access was expected
to be available
after January 21st.
The well-loved
museum was opened by
Pat Herbert in 2003
and the radio
aficionado brought
much of his
collection to its
displays. The museum
continues to have
the support of his
family and friends
following Pat's
death in 2020 at the
age of 83
The
museum is the home
of amateur radio
station EIØMAR,
which is operated by
the Howth Martello
Radio Group. There
is more history to
this museum than
just the collection
it holds: In the
mid-19th century,
the tower itself
housed the first
telegraphy station
connecting Great
Britain and Ireland.
Lee de Forest, the
pioneering radio
scientist from the
US, visited the
tower in 1903 to
conduct experiments
in wireless
telegraphy.
This is Jeremy Boot
G4NJH.
(WIA,
FACEBOOK, QRZ)
** WORLD OF
DX
In the
world of DX, there's
good news for Bouvet
Island Dxpedition
3YØJ (Three Why Zero
Jay) watchers:
Despite earlier
reports to the
contrary, team
members are
operating /mm from
the ship as they
make their way to
the island. Be
listening for them
using their home
calls plus /mm using
CW and SSB. Team
co-leader Ken LA7GIA
said the group has a
dipole with
capability of 17m
and 20m.
Juan, LU8DBS, is on
the air in his spare
time as LU1ZV at
Esperanza Base,
Antarctica, IOTA
number AN-016.
Listen for him on
40, 20 and 10 metres
where he is using
SSB through to the
end of January. In
February, he will be
adding CW and
digital modes. Send
QSLs direct to
LU4DXU.
Be
listening for
Robson, PY6TV, who
will be using CW and
SSB with the
callsign PT6D from
Ilha da Mare, IOTA
Number SA-023 from
the 2nd to the 5th
of February. QSL
direct to his home
call and see his
QRZ.com page for
PayPal details.
Robson will upload
his log to Club Log.
Adam, VK2YK,
Chris, VK5FR, Ivan,
VK5HS and a team of
other VK hams will
be using the
callsign VK5TIL from
Troubridge Island,
IOTA number OC-139,
on the 7th, 8th and
9th of February.
They will operate
CW, SSB and digital
modes on various
bands. QSL via
MØOXO's OQRS, LoTW
and eQSL.
Be
listening for John,
W5JON, who will be
on the air as V47JA
from St. Kitts, IOTA
number NA-104, from
the 31st of January
to the 15th of
February. He will be
using SSB and FT8 on
the HF bands and 6
metres. QSL via
LoTW, or direct to
W5JON.
(425
DX Bulletin)
** STILL TIME TO
PLAN FOR DXPEDITION
BOOTCAMP
NEIL/ANCHOR:
Speaking of chasing
DX and DXpeditions,
a group of amateurs
is hosting a
DXpedition bootcamp
in the South Pacific
offering the
expertise of
experienced ops to
help those who hope
to do it for real
sometime. The
station on Norfolk
Island offers CW and
SSB from 160m
through 10m with
dedicated stations
for FT8 and 6m along
with a variety of
dipole and vertical
antennas. A short
drive from the
DXpedition station
is Mount Bates where
interested operators
can try their hand
at a SOTA
activation. Norfolk
Island National Park
is also adjacent to
the DXpedition
station. The camp
will take place from
March 17th to the
31st. For
information about
costs or other
details, visit the
website
dxpeditionbootcamp -
that's one word -
dot net. Yes, meals
are included.
(WIA, DXPEDITION
BOOTCAMP)
**
KICKER: WHEN 'THANK
YOU' IS A SPECIAL
EVENT
ANCHOR:
Finally, we end with
a story about
gratitude. There are
lots of ways to say
thank you of course
but in amateur radio
some gestures go
beyond mere words or
even certificates.
Here's Ralph
Squillace KK6ITB to
tell us about a
group of hams here
in the US who turned
a "thank you" into a
special event.
RALPH: How
exactly do you say
thank you to your
mentor, the ham who
patiently answered
your questions - all
of them - helped
with your studies,
guided you with your
shack, handled
questions about
on-air protocol
and.....well, you
name it. The simple
answer is: you get
on the air. For a
group of radio
operators in New
England that
translated into
creating a special
event thank you to
their Elmers late
last year. Using the
callsign W1E/ELMER,
six of them got on
the air for a few
days late last year,
telling stories -
and hearing stories
- about those
all-important hams
who made a
difference in their
lives. In all, there
were a little more
than 300 QSOs, each
one an audio
thank-you card
offered as a
tribute.
However, the Elmer
event doesn't end
there. Two of the
organizers, Bill
W1FMX and Rich
KB1FGC, know there
are more stories out
there and lots of
thank yous to share.
This year it will be
happening again,
starting on
September 29th, and
Rich hopes that hams
everywhere - not
just in New England
- will join them on
the air. So if
you've been thinking
about "why" and
"how" of where you
are now in amateur
radio, now is the
time for Rich to
hear from you. His
email address is in
the text version of
this week's newscast
at arnewsline.org
Yaesu Radios
Donated to ARRL to
Inspire Visitors and
Young Hams
There are two
new
Yaesu
transceivers in
use at
ARRL
Headquarters in
Newington,
Connecticut.
They arrived via
a generous
donation from
Yaesu USA.
The Yaesu
FTDX101MP
transceiver is a
welcome addition
to Studio 1 in
W1AW, the Hiram
Percy Maxim
Memorial
Station.
The company has
donated an
FTDX101MP and
FTDX10, both
HF/50 MHz
transceivers. In
arranging the
donation, Yaesu
Vice President,
Sales and Credit
Gary Doshay,
KN6APR, urged
that the radios
be used by ARRL
"to educate and
assist your
visitors and
especially young
enthusiasts for
ham radio."
"We
appreciate the
value that
having this
equipment
available for
members and
visitors to see
and explore will
provide," said
ARRL Director of
Operations Bob
Naumann, W5OV.
"These are two
of the top three
performing
transceivers on
the Sherwood
list," he added.
Congress
Introduces Bill
to Eliminate
Amateur Radio
Private Land Use
Restrictions
The U.S.
House of
Representatives
is considering
legislation that
would modify
regulations that
currently
restrict amateur
radio operators
from installing
or operating
antennas on
their own
property.
According to
a post on the
ARRL website,
H.R. 9670 would
“eliminate
private land use
restrictions
that prohibit,
restrict, or
impair the
ability of an
Amateur Radio
Operator from
operating and
installing
amateur station
antennas on
property subject
to the control
of the Amateur
Radio Operator.”
FCC
regulations
implemented in
the late 1990s
currently
preempt private
land for
exterior
communications
facilities and
equipment that
could impair
television
broadcast
signals or other
licensed
transmissions.
The bill was
introduced in
the House just
before Christmas
by Congressman
Bill Johnson
(OH-6). Previous
attempts filed
with the FCC by
the ARRL (the
National
Association of
Amateur Radio)
to overturn the
restriction were
rejected, with
the FCC stating
that “such
relief would
have to come
from Congress.”
Mobile App
Available to
Navigate 2023
Orlando
HamCation
Orlando
HamCation®
is February
10 - 12,
2023, and
hosts the
ARRL
Southeastern
Division
Convention.
In
partnership
with
HamCation,
ARRL's free
mobile app
is available
to help
attendees
navigate the
large event,
which is
held at the
Central
Florida
Fairgrounds
and Expo
Park.
The free
ARRL Events
app is now
available
and already
includes
HamCation's
full
program, so
attendees
can browse
and schedule
forums,
preview the
extensive
list of
exhibitors,
and find
affiliated
events.
During the
event,
attendees
can use
other app
features to
follow the
hourly prize
drawings and
grand prize
packages,
and browse
building and
site maps.
While
returning
app users do
not have to
re-register
to use the
app, they
will be
prompted to
complete a
simple
registration
to view each
new event.
Attendees
are also
encouraged
to tap on
the
MyProfile
icon in the
app to add
their name
and call
sign, email
address, and
any
additional
information
they would
like to
share with
other
HamCation
guests.
Additionally,
the MyBadge
icon
displays a
QR code of
your event
badge that
can be
scanned by
another
attendee or
exhibitor
using the
Scan Badge
icon -
instantly
connecting
shared
contact
information
with other
hams at the
event.
The app
is available
for Apple
and Android
smart
devices, or
access the
web browser
version
which is
optimized
for nearly
any browser
or other
type of
mobile phone
or tablet.
Visit your
app store to
download the
app (search
"ARRL
Events") or
access the
links
available on
the ARRL
Expo web
page. If
you're
reading this
article on a
mobile
device,
click
here to
be
redirected
to the
appropriate
app store,
or
redirected
to the web
browser
version (www.tripbuildermedia.com/apps/arrl).
For more
information,
please visit
these
official
websites:
This week's
bulletin was made
possible with
information provided
by GU4YOX, The Daily
DX, 425 DX News,
DXNL, Contest Corral
from QST and the
ARRL Contest
Calendar and WA7BNM
web sites. Thanks to
all.
BOUVET,
3Y. A large group of
operators will be
QRV as 3Y0J.
Activity will be on
160 to 10 meters
using CW, SSB and
FT8. QSL via M0OXO.
SRI LANKA,
4S. Peter DC0KK and
Wolfgang DK9DR will
be QRV as 4S7KKG and
4S7DRG,
respectively, from
the Sri Lanka
Broadcast SLBC
transmitting site
from January 29 to
February 7. Activity
will be in their
spare time on 80 to
10 meters using
mostly SSB with FT8
and FT4. QSL to home
calls.
TIMOR-LESTE, 4W.
Satoshi, JH2EUV is
QRV as 4W/JH2EUV.
Activity of late has
been on 17, 15, and
10 meters using FT8.
QSL via LoTW.
TOGO, 5V.
Filippo, IK4ZHH is
QRV as 5V22FF.
Activity is on 40 to
10 meters using
mainly CW with some
SSB. QSL to Club
Log.
KENYA,
5Z. Rick, M0LEP is
QRV as 5Z4/M0LEP
from Nairobi until
January 30. Activity
is in his spare time
on 20 to 6 meters
using CW and SSB.
QSL to home call.
LESOTHO, 7P.
Yuris, YL2GM is QRV
as 7P8WW until
February 4. Activity
is on 160 to 10
meters using CW,
SSB, RTTY, and FT8.
QSL via YL2GN.
THE GAMBIA, C5.
Andre, ON7YK is QRV
as C5YK from Bijilo
until February 24.
Activity is on 20 to
10 meters using all
modes. QSL direct to
home call.
WALLIS AND FUTUNA
ISLANDS, FW.
Jean-Gabriel, F4CIX,
is QRV as FW1JG and
expects to be here
until January 2024.
He is active on 40
to 6 meters using
SSB and FT8. QSL via
LoTW.
FRENCH
GUIANA, FY. Contest
station FY5KE will
be QRV as TO1A in
the CQ World Wide
160-Meter CW and
French CW contests.
QSL via operators'
instructions.
JERSEY, GJ. Bob,
GU4YOX will be QRV
as MJ5E in the CQ
World Wide 160-Meter
CW contest. QSL
direct to home call.
LIECHTENSTEIN, HB0.
Operators DL1MGB,
DL2JRM, DL3DXX and
DL7CX plan to be QRV
as HB0DX in the CQ
World Wide 160-Meter
CW contest as a
Multi/Single entry.
Outside the contest
they are active as
HB0/home calls. QSL
HB0DX via DL3DXX and
all others to home
calls.
PANAMA, HP. Members
of the Panama Canal
Amateur Radio
Association will be
QRV as 3E30PCARA
from February 1 to
28 to celebrate the
club's 30th
anniversary. QSL
direct.
ALASKA, KL. Brandon,
KL7BSC will be QRV
from Denali State
Park, POTA K-1641,
during Winter Field
Day. QSL via LoTW.
ANTARCTICA.
Juan, LU8DBS is QRV
as LU1ZV until
February from the
Argentine Esperanza
Antarctica Base
located at Hope Bay,
Trinity Peninsula
while on work
assignment. Activity
is in his spare time
on 40, 20, and 10
meters using SSB,
and soon with CW and
FT8. QSL via LU4DXU.
PAPUA NEW
GUINEA, P2. Alberto,
P29LL has been QRV
on 20 meters using
CW around 0800z, and
then around 1400z.
QSL via EA7FTR.
SEYCHELLES, S7.
Kazik, DL2SBY is QRV
as S79/DL2SBY until
February 4. Activity
is on 160 to 10
meters using some
CW, FT8, and
possibly SSB. QSL to
home call. In
addition, Peter,
G4HSO will be QRV as
S79/G4HSO from
February 1 to 21 as
a holiday operation
from three different
locations. QSL via
LoTW.
ST.
KITTS AND NEVIS, V4.
John, W5JON will be
QRV as V47JA from
St, Kitts, Calypso
Bay, IOTA NA-104,
from January 31 to
February 15.
Activity will be on
160 to 6 meters
using SSB and FT8.
QSL direct to home
call.
CANADA, VE. Special
event station
VB3CAM50 will be QRV
from February 1 to
15 to celebrate the
50th anniversary of
the city of
Cambridge in
Ontario. QSL via
operator's
instructions.
MEXICO, XE.
Garcia, XE1CIC will
be QRV from
Bicentenario State
Park, POTA XE-0252,
on January 28 and
29. Activity will be
on 20 to 10 meters
using SSB. QSL
direct to home call.
ALBANIA, ZA.
Ron, NS5K is QRV as
ZA15K from Lushnje
until November 15
while performing
missionary work.
Activity is in his
spare time on 40 and
20 meters. QSL via
operator's
instructions.
THIS WEEKEND ON
THE RADIO. The CQ
World Wide 160-Meter
CW Contest, Winter
Field Day, BARTG
RTTY Sprint, NCCC
RTTY Sprint, QRP
80-Meter CW Fox
Hunt, NCCC CW
Sprint, K1USN Slow
Speed CW Test, REF
CW Contest and the
UBA DX SSB Contest
will certainly keep
contesters busy this
upcoming weekend.
THURDAY
EDITION: I
hear lots of chatter
about Winter Field
Day, let see if they
show up on the
airwaves this
weekend...Damn,
West Virginia
is scary....Having
solving and
bankrolling all the
problems in the
world, NASA is
funding a space
plane that will fly
on the
Saturn moon of Titan.....A
reliable battery
backup
protects your
electronics in
more ways than one.
Tesla wants to make
humanoid robots.
Here’s their
competition.
From Boston Dynamics
to Sophia, the
robotics field has
been teeming with
new inventions, each
of them both
talented and flawed
in their own ways.
During
Tesla’s AI day
last week, Elon Musk
unmasked his next
creation to come:
“friendly” Tesla
robots that can
perform dangerous,
repetitive, and
boring tasks like
fetching tools for
repairs or getting
groceries.
Further dampening
the hype for Musk’s
robot is the fact
that the
self-driving system
which powers Tesla’s
cars, and
theoretically would
power this new
robot, has recently
been
under federal
investigation
for crashing into
emergency vehicles.
Taking into
account that Musk is
known for
being a showman over
being a realist,
you probably
shouldn’t hold your
breath for him to
deliver this
promised product on
time.
Musk is not alone
in his ambitions.
Many companies and
universities have
been working on
robots that can take
on human-supporting
tasks, from
monitoring health,
to going on rescue
missions, to just
being a a
butler. But,
there’s still a wide
gap between the
types of robot
assistants portrayed
in movies and TV
versus what is
possible right now
with current
research.
Boston Dynamics
Boston Dynamics,
arguably the leader
in humanoid
robotics, has been
testing their tech
for almost a decade.
The company,
previously owned by
SoftBank, was
acquired by
Hyundai Motor Group
in June. Their
humanoid
Atlas robots
have undergone
several trials to
test their
agility and
motion in
different
environments.
Atlas was first
introduced to the
public in 2013.
Recently, the robot
managed to master
parkour. Atlas is
just under five foot
tall, weighs around
196 pounds, and can
run at speeds up to
5.6 mph. These
robots are still
just for research
and are not
available
commercially.
However, one of
their dog-like
robots, Spot, is
available for
purchase at a
ticket price of
$74,500.
Agility Robotics
has their own
version of a
humanoid work bot
called
Digit. In 2019,
Agility Robotics
teamed up with
automaker Ford Motor
to
put Digit to work.
Digit has working
and adjustable arms
and legs that helps
it walk around, pick
up objects and move
them. It uses LiDAR
and other sensors to
navigate. Now,
Ford is testing
whether Digit in
combination with
Ford’s self-driving
car can collaborate
to make
deliveries.
SoftBank
SoftBank’s
Pepper,
introduced in 2014,
was one of the
first social
humanoid robots.
At one point, it was
available for
purchase if you have
$2,000 to spare.
Pepper has the
features of a small
child, can mimic
upper-body human
movements, and can
recognize human
emotion and pick up
non-verbal social
cues, creating an
illusion of
understanding, or
what some developers
call artificial
empathy. Despite
stints at the
Smithsonian and
Buddhist temples,
the production of
Pepper was put on
halt this year,
reported The
Verge.
Hanson Robotics
Hanson Robotics
is responsible for
creating the
uncannily human-like
robot Sophia, which
came on the scene in
2016.
Reuters
reported in
January that the
Hong Kong-based
company would start
mass-producing four
robot models
sometime this year,
including Sophia.
Founder David Hanson
told Reuters
that these
robots could be
helpful in
healthcare, retail,
and airline
settings.
HONORABLE
MENTIONS
Even though not
all humanoid robots
can share the
spotlight equally,
some are good at
specific tasks while
others are important
as
proof-of-concepts.
The neural
network-run
Japanese robot Altar
is nothing more than
a complex inflatable
air dancer, but it
provided an example
of how coordination
and moving in
harmony with humans
is not an easy thing
to teach robots.
Stanford’s
OceanOne diving
robot was able
to retrieve a vase
from an underwater
shipwreck,
hypothetically
reducing the need
for people to go on
dangerous diving
missions. However,
this aquatic
humanoid diver still
needs humans to
direct it virtually.
Samsung has been
keen on making
at-home robotic
health aides. But in
practice, these
health-monitoring
robots work less
like Big Hero 6’s
Baymax, and more
like a Roomba with a
Life Alert button.
Just how big is a
moose.....
WEDNESDAY
EDITION:
New England's
version of the
Friendly Bunch on
3928 was lively
yesterday afternoon,
they are doing fine
business work
promoting ham radio
and friendliness.
You can even ask for
an audio check
without getting
yelled at. The most
important
breakthrough in this
group is the all new
persona of Iron
Mike- XW. Since he
started chewing the
gummy bears
medicinal dope, he
is amazing, I bet
they will even let
him back in the
Chinese
Restaurant next to
HRO and remove the
restraining order
placed by the
waiter. Nice to hear
Ranger Rick and Cape
Cod Arthur, and the
usual friendly
bunch.....The
Doomsday Clock moves to 90
seconds to midnight,
signaling more peril
than ever...Half
the people who buy
smart appliances are
smart enough to not
connect them. Or
they're afraid if
they do connect
them, the appliances
will be smarter than
them
Bryan Amateur
Radio Club to host
annual Winter Field
Day exercises from
Jan. 28-29
BRYAN, Texas
— The
Bryan Amateur
Radio Club
will be hosting
its annual
Winter Field Day
exercises on
Saturday, Jan.
28 and Sunday,
Jan. 29,
according to a
press release
from the
organization.
According to
the news
release, the
exercises are
meant to serve
as a way to
prepare for
emergencies when
extreme weather
conditions such
as snow, ice, or
freezing
temperatures may
disrupt regular
communications
operations.
The exercises
will be held at
Earl Graham Post
159 American
Legion at 101
Waco St. in
Bryan, and will
serve as an
opportunity for
the public to
communicate with
other
participating
clubs across the
country via
radio.
Falmouth Amateur
Radio (Cape Cod)
Association To Join
Winter Field Day
The Falmouth
Amateur Radio
Association will
take part in the
nationwide
Winter Field Day
event, a
communications
exercise that
allows amateur
radio operators
to practice
portable
emergency
communications
in winter
environments.
Freezing
temperatures,
snow, ice and
other hazards
present unique
operational
challenges for
successful
emergency
communications,
and the event
helps increase
the level of
preparedness for
disasters and
improve
operational
skills in subpar
conditions.
The group
will operate
from Marina Park
in Falmouth
using its
emergency
communications
trailer.
Operations run
from 2PM
Saturday,
January 28,
through 2PM
Sunday, January
29. The public
is invited to
stop by and
learn more about
amateur radio.
TUESDAY
EDITION: 5
inches of wet snow
but the driveway is
clear and open for
business...I still
need to get one end
of the G5RV up in
the air before the
Weekend Field Day at
the club, the wx is
not helping.
It has to to be a
no-code Tech.....
MONDAY
EDITION:
CAARA
will be operating
Winter Field Day at
the club facility.
We will run
the building on a
generator for heat
and batteries for
all the radios. The
plan is to run two
stations, one using
the 10-20 meter beam
on SSB and the other
on the G5RV on 40
running cw. A
cookout for food and
the whole event is
just for fun....
Winter Field Day
2023
Winter Field
Day (WFD),
sponsored by the
Winter Field Day
Association, is
coming again.
This year, the
dates are
January 28 and
29. Radio clubs
around the
country are
activating for
this event.
Complete rules
can be found on
the WFD website,
at
Home - Winter
Field Day.
Combining this
with ARRL's
yearlong event,
Volunteers On
the Air, is
a great way to
make contacts
that count for
both activities
and get new
operators on the
air.
WFD
is a
communications
exercise and is
held annually on
the last full
weekend in
January. It can
be worked from
the comfort of
your home or in
a remote
location. You
can participate
by yourself or
get your
friends, family,
or whole club
involved. WFD is
open to
participants
worldwide.
Amateur radio
operators may
use frequencies
on the HF, VHF,
or UHF bands,
and are free to
use any mode
that can
faithfully
transmit the
required
exchange intact.
Like the ARRL
Field Day, bonus
points are
earned in
several ways,
including for
using
non-commercial
power sources,
operating from
remote
locations,
making satellite
contacts, and
more.
The
Winter Field Day
Association
passionately
believes that
ham radio
operators should
practice
portable
emergency
communications
in winter
environments, as
the potential
for freezing
temperatures,
snow, ice, and
other hazards
present unique
operational
concerns. WFD is
formatted to
help increase
your level of
preparedness for
disasters and
improve your
operational
skills in subpar
conditions.
I believe this is
NE1Z of 3910
fame.....
Amateur
Satellite
FalconSAT-3
Nears Reentry
Many
amateur
radio
operators
and
satellite
watchers
have been
predicting
the date and
time of
reentry for
FalconSAT-3
(FS-3).
While all
reentry
predictions
are
something of
a guessing
game due to
the large
number of
variables
affecting
the upper
atmosphere,
it is
certain that
the end for
FS-3 will be
coming very
soon,
possibly the
week of
January 16 -
21, 2023.
Radio
Amateur
Satellite
Corporation
(AMSAT)
Board Member
and FS-3
control
operator,
Mark
Hammond,
N8MH, said
he will try
to have the
satellite
operational
for its
final hours.
The
satellite
has only
been
available
for
approximately
24 hours
each weekend
due to weak
batteries.
The
FalconSAT-3
satellite.
[Photo
courtesy of
AMSAT]
FalconSAT-3
was built in
2005 and
2006 by
cadets and
faculty in
the Space
Systems
Research
Center at
the US Air
Force
Academy
(USAFA) in
Colorado
Springs,
Colorado. It
is the
fourth in a
series of
small
satellites
designed,
built, and
operated
there as
part of a
capstone
course,
which brings
together
about 30
cadets each
year from
several
different
academic
departments.
Nearly
700 cadets
at the USAFA
obtained
their
amateur
radio
licenses as
part of
training to
operate
FalconSAT-3
and other
USAFA
satellites.
They have
taken that
knowledge,
understanding,
and value of
amateur
radio into
their Air
Force
service and
industry.
Since
FalconSAT-3,
the USAFA
Astronautics
Department
has built
and operated
one
additional
satellite
and has two
more queued
for launch.
The space
operations
curriculum
and the
ground
station are
being
rebuilt and
configured
for these
new space
assets.
Since
its launch
on an Atlas
V rocket
from Cape
Canaveral in
March 2007,
the
satellite
has been
through
three
mission
phases. The
first phase
was
operation of
the science
payloads.
The second
phase was
used as a
tool for
training
cadets in
the space
operations
squadron,
students in
undergraduate
space
training in
California,
and graduate
students at
the Air
Force
Institute of
Technology.
The
satellite's
third phase
was an
on-orbit
resource for
amateur
radio and
amateur-satellite
services
operation
managed by
AMSAT.
Radio
Amateur
Satellite
Corporation,
AMSAT, logo;
blue text
with a red
graphical
globeFor
amateur
radio
service the
downlink is
at 435.103
MHz
transmitting
1 W into a
quarter-wave
whip
antenna. The
uplink is at
145.840 MHz
and the
receiving
antenna is a
quarter-wave
whip antenna
on the
opposite
side of the
satellite.
All UHF and
S-band
equipment on
National
Telecommunications
and
Information
Administration
licensed
frequencies
has been
disabled.
The VHF
receiver is
very
sensitive.
Modulation
is 9600 bps
GMSK for the
uplink and
downlink.
The
broadcast
call sign is
PFS3-11, and
the BBS
callsign is
PFS3-12,
Unproto APRS
via PFS3-1.
The core
avionics
were
designed and
built by
Mark
Kanawati,
N4TPY, and
Dino
Lorenzini,
KC4YMG at
SpaceQuest,
and have
performed
remarkably
well for
nearly 16
years in
orbit. Jim
White, WD0E,
was the lead
engineer for
FalconSAT-3
at the USAFA
and managed
the design,
construction,
testing, and
early
operations
of the
satellite.
The
success of
FalconSAT-3
is an
excellent
example of
how amateur
radio can be
integrated
into the
curriculum
of an
education
institution
for the
benefit of
the students
and the
amateur
radio
service.
--
Thanks to
Sasha
Timokhov,
VE3SVF; Jean
Marc Momple,
3B8DU; Mark
Hammond,
N8MH; AMSAT
Operations,
and AMSAT
News for the
information
contained in
this story.
That Elusive
First
Contact
I've been
involved in
ham radio in
one way or
another
since my
early teens.
I used to go
to the local
club
meetings of
the Spokane
"Dial
Twisters."
As a teen,
however, I
was unable
to learn the
Morse code.
I tried
tapes but
would
memorize the
tapes before
leaning
enough of
the code. In
retrospect,
what I
needed was
someone to
practice
with, but
nobody
offered, and
I didn't
know at the
time to ask.
Fast-forward
to 1983 and
my first
duty
assignment
in
California.
A newfound
friend with
similar
interests
told me of a
local class
for novices
and invited
me to go.
About three
weeks later
I passed the
Morse code
test. (I had
someone to
practice
with), and
the only
major hurdle
was
overcome. I
don't think
I studied at
all for the
written but
I aced it
easily;
after all,
I'd been
reading the
handbook for
at least
five years!
I don't
remember how
long it
took, but
sometime
later I get
the call
KB6AOL;
yeah, it
would be
funny to
have that
call today.
At any rate,
at the time
I didn't own
a radio, and
while I had
access to
the club
station, I
had other
things on my
mind so I
left
California
without
making a
single
contact.
When I
went home on
leave I
spent most
of the month
building a
forty meter
QRP
transceiver
from a
combination
of articles
in QST and
the
handbook. I
think I used
the tuna tin
two
transmitter
and one of
the
mountaineer
series
receivers
along with
various
other
things.
I strung
up some
wire, did a
quick review
of the code,
and called
CQ a few
times, but,
as might be
expected
when one
combines no
experience,
200
milliwatts,
a direct
conversion
receiver,
and a
substandard
antenna in
an urban
environment,
no real
results were
obtained.
The
transceiver
eventually
became parts
for other,
more
pressing,
projects. I
still have
the audio
filter
though; it's
in my SW
receiver
After
returning
from Germany
I bought an
Eico 753 at
a yard sale
and tried
hooking up
some wire
antennas,
but my code
was too
rusty and my
interests
were being
pulled
strongly in
other
directions.
KB6AOL had
never made a
contact; I
let my
ticket
lapse....
....until
now.
A recent
need for a
kindler
gentler
morning
wakeup led
me to
construct a
one-transistor
FM broadcast
transmitter
so my alarm
clock would
play
streaming
audio
instead of
nasty
broadcast
FM. That
project woke
up something
else,
however, the
thrill I get
from
building RF
projects.
A short
diversion
into part 15
experiments
was
interrupted
by the
realization
that I could
just get a
new ham
ticket. A
few phone
calls later
I was
scheduled to
take
elements
one, two,
and three
the
following
Saturday.
Computers
make
studying
Morse code a
LOT easier,
I managed to
learn enough
in that week
to pass the
code test
both ways,
i.e. 25+
straight
copy and
seven or
more
questions
right. The
only thing
necessary
for me to
pass the
other
elements was
read every
question,
yes, all 900
of them,
once.
Less than
a week
later, on
the day of
the power
outage no
less, my
call showed
up in the
database,
KC8YGZ,
that's a
mouthful no
matter what
mode you say
it in. The
following
day, my
FT817 showed
up at the
door. By the
evening, the
power was
restored,
the
batteries
were
charging and
I was
futzing with
some hastily
made
dipoles. The
following
afternoon, I
chased down
the mailman
to get my
LDG Z11 kit,
built it
that evening
and by 10pm
Saturday
night I was
sending out
a signal on
40 meters.
....sort
of....
Several
hours later
I was
hoarse,
metaphorically
that is; my
CQs went
unanswered.
To make
matters
worse, I'd
call CQ only
to hear
someone else
calling CQ
on the same
frequency.
Much faster
than me of
course; no
point in
trying to
answer. They
didn't hear
my CQ in the
first place,
and although
I knew they
were calling
CQ, I sure
couldn't
copy the
call.
Well, of
course,
nobody could
hear me.
After all, I
only have
five Watts,
and my
antennas are
substandard.
This calls
for (drum
roll please)
ANTENNA
EXPERIMENTATION!!!
Well, for
the next few
days I tried
dipoles,
long wires,
the rain
gutter,
verticals
made of this
that and the
other thing,
I even
loaded up
the window
frames. I
tried almost
every
stealth
antenna
trick I
could find
on the net.
I live in a
first floor
apartment,
so I must
use a
stealth
technique.
To be clear,
I am hearing
people, and
in fact,
there hasn't
been a
significant
variation in
my ability
to receive.
The full
length, but
bent, forty
meter dipole
seems to
work about
as well as
anything I
can get away
with putting
up outside,
at least on
receive.
After
much reading
about the
challenges
and
successes of
others I
settled on a
couple of
antennas
that
"should"
work, built
them
carefully
enough so
that they
would work
without the
tuner on at
least some
portion of
the band and
sat down to
focus on
making a
contact.
Well, let
me tell ya,
after you
call CQ and
your own
call about
seven
hundred and
fifty times
you get
really bored
and start to
send too
fast. Yes I
tried
listening
for others
calling CQ,
but someone
would always
beat me to
answering,
or, more
often, they
were sending
too fast for
me.
I felt it
best to hang
out on the
novice bands
as that
should be
where slow
CW ought to
be
tolerated,
and besides,
I'm trying
to live that
missed
novice
experience.
So I'm
sending my
CQ in a very
blas' manner
and out of
nowhere,
holy cow,
someone
starts to
transmit as
soon as I
stop and it
sounds like
they might
be talking
to me. I
copy
"something
something
somethng DE
WJ0C WJ0C
something."
I wasn't
sure, was he
talking to
me? All of a
sudden I got
very very
nervous, and
simply sent
WJ0C WJ0C DE
KC8YGZ
KC8YGZ. At
least I
think that's
what I sent;
I might have
made some
mistakes.
After I
stop, here
comes a
flood of
code. I
started
copying, but
it's too
fast; I get
flustered,
Lost. I got
something of
the QTH, but
didn't here
my own call
anywhere. He
stops, was
he talking
to me; I
still don't
know. I
copied
hardly
anything of
what he sent
and if he
wasn't
talking to
me, well, I
didn't know
what to
send, I
panicked,
froze, right
there. Yes,
I'm a grown
man, and yes
I panicked
about
something so
trivial.
Anyway, I
waited a
minute for
something
else and
then just
started
calling CQ
again, this
time much
more slowly.
I tried
for several
more hours
moving
between 7110
and around
7040, but no
more
contacts or
"possible
contacts"
where had.
Jim, if
you were
talking to
me, I
apologize
for not
giving you
much of a
conversation.
It's been
almost
thirty years
since I
first became
excited
about ham
radio, and I
still
haven't made
that first
HF contact.
I have no
intentions
of giving
up. I might
try building
a fifty
wattish tube
PA, or, what
the heck,
just getting
my hands on
a more
powerful
transmitter.
But
ultimately,
I want to
succeed with
low power
because
building is
what I
enjoy, and
low power
stuff is far
more
approachable.
So, if
you hear my
anemic CQ on
7110, could
you perhaps
send a quick
email to
KC8YGZ@planetp.org
saying
"Daryl, I
heard your
CQ from
[fill in
your QTH]".
At least
that way I'd
have some
idea of how
far my
signal was
reaching.
The way it
stands now,
it looks
like I might
get my extra
ticket
before I
ever make a
single HF
contact.
I'll be
taking
element four
in
September.
You can
be sure I'll
be asking
for a
systematic
call change,
at least
that way if
Jim was
talking to
me, I might
get a second
chance.
A little chilly here
but thinking about a
Vespa...
Amateur Radio
‘Winter Field Day’
later this month
will demonstrate
science, skill and
service
The event is open
to the public and
all are encouraged
to attend.
WHARC members
will set up
temporary stations
in the VFW hall to
make contacts with
other amateur radio
operators around the
world for 24 hours.
Members of the
public are welcome
to visit between 2
p.m. and 11 p.m. on
Saturday and between
10 a.m. and 2 p.m.
on Sunday.
For more than 100
years, amateur radio
— also called ham
radio — has allowed
people from all
walks of life to
experiment with
electronics and
communications
techniques, as well
as provide a free
public service to
their communities
during a disaster or
emergency, all
without needing a
cell phone or the
Internet.
Winter Field Day
demonstrates ham
radio’s ability to
work reliably under
any conditions from
almost any location
and create an
independent
communications
network.
“It’s easy for
anyone to pick up a
computer or
smartphone, connect
to the Internet and
communicate, with no
knowledge of how the
devices function or
connect to each
other,” Larry
Maleszewski, WHARC
Vice President,
said.
“Hams can
literally throw a
wire in a tree for
an antenna, connect
it to a
battery-powered
transmitter and
communicate halfway
around the world,”
WHARC President Jim
Miller said. “In
today’s electronic
do-it-yourself (DIY)
environment, ham
radio remains one of
the best ways for
people to learn
about electronics,
physics, meteorology
and numerous other
scientific
disciplines. In
addition, amateur
radio is a huge
asset to any
community during
disasters or
emergencies if the
standard
communication
infrastructure goes
down.”
Anyone may become
a licensed amateur
radio operator.
There are more than
725,000 licensed
hams in the United
States, as young as
9 and as old as 100.
And with clubs such
as West Hudson
Amateur Radio Club,
it’s easy for
anybody to get
involved right here
in the area around
Kearny, Harrison,
and East Newark.
WHARC was founded
by local amateur
radio operators in
2021 and has events,
in person, and on
the air every month.
The club welcomes
anyone with an
interest in radio
and electronics to
join, regardless of
whether they
currently have an
Amateur Radio
license.
Photo of Bob- W1GWU
at the beginning of
his career in radio
What
is a
mayday
signal,
who
uses
it,
and
how
was
it
invented?
Mayday: it's the international signal for an emergency made by planes and boats which use radio communications, which was recently used on Qantas flight QF144 from Auckland to Sydney, which ended up landing safely.
Airservices Australia, a government-owned organisation responsible for the management of Australia's skies, describes such a call as an indication "an aircraft is in grave and imminent danger and requires immediate assistance".
But the history of the mayday call dates back to 1920s England.
While SOS had been used to signal an emergency via morse code, with the increase in air travel it was less practical to use over radio.
Frederick Stanley Mockford came up with a new word for signalling an emergency: "mayday".
He was in charge of radio at Croydon Airport near London.
Firefighters
and police
calls also
use the
word.
However, if
there is an
urgent issue
but not a
mayday,
another
signal can
be used.
"PAN-PAN"
from the
French panne,
means "a
breakdown",
and also
stands for
possible
assistance
needed.
Examples of
PAN
situations
include a
medical
emergency or
faulty
instrument.
Sponsor:
Augusta ARA Date:
Feb 11 2023 Time:
9:00 AM (Walk-ins
allowed) Contact:
Joseph G. Devonshire
(207) 549-0061
Email:
trainbee@aol.com
VEC: ARRL/VEC
Location: Le Club
Calumet 334 West
River Rd Augusta
ME 04330
Not long after the
Boat Anchor Hamfest
will be the Maine
State Convention
sponsored by the
Androscoggin Amateur
Radio Club. This
State Hamfest and
Convention will
convene March 24th &
25th at the Ramada
Inn just off Exit 86
in Lewiston. For
more information
please visit
http://www.w1npp.org/pages/MEConvention2023.html
You will also want
to pencil in
HamXposition on your
calendar.
HamXposition is
the New England
Convention held in
Marlborough, MA. The
2023 Dates will be
August 25, 26, 27 at
the Best Western
Royal Plaza Hotel.
Hope to see you at
Northeast's Premiere
Amateur Radio
Convention!
Ham radio
operators 'still a
thing' in this
advanced
technological world
FOND DU LAC, Wis.
(CBS 58) -- In
today's techie
world, radio
operators are in it
more for the hobby
rather than
necessity. Even
still, the National
Association for
Amateur Radio
estimates there are
two thousand clubs
throughout the
country and more
than half a million
ham amateurs.
VIDEO
They use this
kind of frequency
spectrum for various
purposes of
communication,
including emergency
situations like
weather events and
cases of missing
persons.
The Fond du Lac
Amateur Radio Club
has its
free-standing
meeting the second
Monday of every
month. If you're
interested in
attending the
meeting or maybe
even getting your
own radio operator
license, just send
an email
to backstagelive@gmail.com
or click
here.
MONDAY
EDITION: A
Las Vegas
gentleman's club
which claims to be
the biggest strip
club in the world
has taken a leap
into the future with
a
giant robotic suit
to be donned by
security...Russia is
holding back on
using its
most advanced
fighter jets
over Ukraine because
it's scared they
will get shot down,
UK intel says ...
HAMS YOU
MIGHT KNOW
K1TP-
Jon....Editor of As The World
Turns.... KA1BXB-Don...Regular
on
3928
afternoons....just
don't
mention
politics
to
him,
please! WB1ABC-
Ari..Bought an amp and now we
can here him on 75 meters,
worships his wife, obsessed with
Id'ing N1BOW-Phil...Retired
broadcast engineer, confused and
gullible, cheap, only uses
singl ply toilet paper KB1OWO-
Larry...Handsome Fellow
,only cuts lawn in August, plows
snow the rest in Jackman, Maine W1GEK-
Big Mike....Nearfest Cook, big
motor home, electronics software
engineer ... AA1SB-
Neil...Living large traveling
the country with his
girlfriend...loves CW N1YX-
Igor....peddles quality Russian
keys, software engineer K1BGH...Art.....Restores
cars and radio gear, nice fella... N1XW.....Mike-easy
going, Harley riding kind of
guy! K1JEK-Joe...Easy going, can
be found at most ham flea market
...Cobra Antenna builder.. KA1GJU-
Kriss- Tower climbing pilot who
cooks on the side at
Hosstrader's... W1GWU-Bob....one
of the Hosstrader's original
organizers, 75 meter regular,
Tech Wizard!!! K1PV-
Roger....75 meter regular, easy
going guy... W1XER...Scott....easy
going guy, loves to split
cordwood and hunt... KB1VX-
Barry- the picture says it all,
he loves food! KC1BBU-
Bob....the Mud Duck from the
Cape Cod Canal, making a lot of
noise. W1STS- Scott...philosopher,
hat connoisseur,
KB1JXU-
Matthew...75 meter regular...our
token liberal Democrat out of VT K1PEK-Steve..Founder
of Davis-RF....my best friend
from high school K9AEN-John...Easy
going ham found at all the ham
fests K1BQT.....Rick....very
talented ham, loves his
politics, has designed gear for
MFJ... W1KQ- Jim- Retired
Air Force
Controller...told quite a few
pilots where to go! N1OOL-Jeff-
The 3936 master plumber and
ragchewer... K1BRS-Bruce-
Computer Tech of 3936...multi
talented kidney stone passing
ham... K1BGH- Arthur, Cape Cod,
construction company/ice cream
shop, hard working man.... W1VAK-
Ed, Cape Cod, lots of experience
in all areas, once was a Jacques
Cousteus body guard.... K1BNH-
Bill- Used to work for a bottled
gas company-we think he has been
around nitrous oxide to long W1HHO- Cal...3941
group K1MPM-
Pete...3941
group WA1JFX-
Russell...3941
group .
SILENT KEYS
Silent Key
N1IOM- 3910 colorful
regular Silent Key
WS1D-
Warren- "Windy" - Bullnet Silent Key
KMIG-Rick....75
Meter Regular....teaches the
future of mankind, it's scary! Silent
Key
Neil
-K1YPM
.....a
true
gentleman Silent Key
K1BXI- John.........Dr.
Linux....fine amateur radio op
....wealth of experience... Silent KeyVA2GJB-
Graham...one of the good 14313
guys back in the day. Silent Key
K1BHV-
David...PITA Silent Key
W1JSH-
Mort...Air Force man Silent Key
K1MAN--Glen....PITA
Silent KeyKB1CJG-"Cobby"-
Low key gent can be found on
many of the 75 meter
nets......... Silent KeyWB1AAZ-
Mike, Antrim, NH, auto parts
truck driver-retired Silent KeyWB1DVD-
Gil....Gilly..Gilmore.....easy
going, computer parts selling,
New England Ham.. Silent Key
W1OKQ-
Jack....3936 Wheeling and
Dealing......keeping the boys on
there toes.... Silent Key
W1TCS-
Terry....75 meter
regular, wealth of electronic
knowledge... Silent Key
WIPNR-
Mack....DXCC Master, worked them
all!.. 3864 regular for many
years... Silent Key
WILIM- Hu....SK at 92... 3864
regular for many years... Silent Key
N1SIE-
Dave....Loves to fly Silent Key:N1WBD-
Big Bob- Tallest ham, at 6'10",
of the 3864 group Silent Key:
W1FSK-Steve....Navy
Pilot, HRO Salesman, has owned
every radio ever built! Silent Key:
W4NTI-Vietnam
Dan....far from easy going cw
and ssb op on 14275/313 Silent Key:K1FUB-Bill-
Loved ham radio....